Many people don’t realise that when you own property jointly with another person that property will not pass under your will or by intestacy. When making your will it is important that you consider how property is held to ensure that it passes in accordance with your wishes. There are two main ways of owning a property jointly known as […]
Wills and jointly owned property
What happens if I die without making a Will?
If you die in England or Wales without a legally valid Will the intestacy rules govern who is entitled to receive your assets. If you have no living family members, everything will go to the Crown. Here is a simple guide to how the intestacy rules would distribute your estate if you died without a will. Married or in a […]
Why do I need to make a Will?
A will helps to protect your family’s future and ensures that you control how your assets pass after you die. By writing a will you have certainty that your wishes will be carried out and you can use it to appoint guardians for minor children and make known any specific wishes you many have in terms of individual gifts or […]
Choosing the Right Funeral Director Can Make All the Difference
Arranging a funeral for a loved one for the first time can be an emotional and distressing experience. Because of this year’s pandemic, it is an unfortunate reality that funerals have often had to be organised when least expected. Despite the challenging circumstances, most people want their loved one to get the very best care and attention as they depart […]
What Could Happen to Your Assets if Your Lose Your Life to COVID-19 Without a Will?
Most of us have already had our lives dominated by the incessant news about the global COVID-19 pandemic, but there are a number of deaths that have without reasonable notice inflicted families. After all, no one really thought a virus allegedly derived from bats could do so much damage to the human population. But it has and swiftly too. One […]
Can I Sell the Deceased’s Property to Pay Inheritance Tax?
Paying Inheritance tax (IHT) is not always a straightforward matter, particularly if the amount due is more than you, the executor, have available to pay. If the estate left in the will is more than £325,000, then 40% of any amount over this threshold will need to be paid to HMRC. It doesn’t matter whether the estate is property only, […]
Do I Have To Act As An Executor If Named In a Will?
Administering a relative’s will can be a traumatic experience, but it’s not a role you are forced to do, even if you have been appointed to take on the task by the deceased relative in his or her will. There is a process available if you want to withdraw your rights to take on this task. It’s called renunciation and […]
Check Carefully For a Will When a Loved One Dies
We often think that we have to make a will at sometime or other so that we can be sure that our assets don’t get into the wrong hands once we have died. It seems that in some cases making a Will hasn’t had the effect one would expect it to have. Most law firms admitted in a National Will […]
UK Ministry of Justice Proposed Increase in Probate Fees Scrapped
Some people may be wondering why they haven’t heard any more about the proposed rise in probate fees which was part of the Government’s plans to increase revenue for the Ministry of Justice by £185m annually. This should have taken place last April but the Brexit impasse appears to have held up the decision. Just recently, the British government has […]
How to Escape Inheritance Tax the Legal Way
What is inheritance tax? Inheritance tax was first introduced in 1986. It is a tax that needs to be paid on the property or cash of some people after they die. Currently, the rate is set at 40 percent of all assets that exceed £325,000, so it really only applies to those who leave significant wealth behind when they die. […]
Storing Your Will So It Can Be Found
Often, when a will is written, the last thing the person whose will it is wants is relatives or potential beneficiaries to shuffle through draws and cupboards looking for a piece of paper which will tell them whether they are a beneficiary or not. However, you might think you should conceal it away from prying eyes, but you do not […]
Choosing an Executor to Administer Your Will
The person who sorts out your property when you die and carries out the instructions in your Will is called your executor. It is preferable that you appoint an executor in your Will as it makes it easier to finalise your Will after you die. There are no restrictions on who you choose to do the job, but it is […]